Conflicts of interest in the medical practices have become prominent in the modern times with the overwhelming development

in medical science and medical research. Globalization has resulted in the inflow of numerous brands of medicines that bear the same combination. Hence, the field of medicine is gradually getting transformed into a field of competition to attract the customers. Just as the producers of others consumerist products that totally depend on advertisement and the issue of gift samples to enhance the amount of productivity, the drug companies too launch themselves in an advertising spree to establish themselves among the consumers. But in the case of drug manufacturers, their direct target can not be the consumers. For, they do not get a chance to meet the consumers in person. Hence, their immediate target becomes medical practitioners, who are at immediate contact with the patients, who are in turn the consumers of the drug manufacturers. he manufacturers, gain! minded contact with the medical practitioners leads to numerous conflicts of interests in the field of medical practices and research. "#perts argue that the direct interaction between the manufacturers and practitioners slowly brings down the absolute trust that the commoners have on medical practice and practitioners. $n this paper, $ would li%e to focus on three of those conflicting practices that prove detrimental to the patients& trust on the practitioners. he three common issues that lead to conflict of interest in medical practices are, the medical practitioners'

accept company gifts of various kinds, including meals and drug samples; act as promotional speakers or writers on behalf of companies; or have a financial interest in a medical product company whose products they prescribe, use, or recommend.

he drug manufacturers bowl the medical practitioners over with pleasant and highly attractive gifts. $n the modern times, gifts from drug companies to the physicians have become ubi(uitous. he companies appoint medical representatives to visit the physicians at regular intervals and to shower on them gifts, such as, pen stands, scribbling pads, table d)cor complements, etc. Further, they also provide the physicians with free samples of their products. his serves as a platform for them to introduce their new products to the customers and to enhance the mar%et conditions for their e#isting ones. hough some may argue that these sample drugs would help people, who are not in a position to afford costly drugs, it is commonly accepted that economically poor people do not actually benefit from these free samples. *t time they are even sold by the physicians through the drug store that serves as an anne#ure to their clinic. +econdly, a few others would argue that simple gifts such as an yearly calendar, diary or an ine#pensive table d)cor complement would be non! conse(uential, psychological researches reveal that gifts, however small they may be, can have a lasting impact on the minds of the receivers. * shower of gifts from a drug manufacturer ta%es from the minds of the physicians, the name of other manufacturers. he doctor, bearing in mind the array of gifts and economic benefits that he receives from a company, prescribes only the same company to most of his patients. his in turn would lead the world to danger. *t this ,uncture, one must

understand that most of the people have an absolute trust on their physicians and follow to the last word their instructions and medical prescriptions. Hence, if a physician gets greedy and prescribes a low standard medicine merely for the sa%e of emoluments that he receives from the manufacturer' his greed would put ris% the general health of the society.

* viable solution to this ris% would be to cast a ban on drug manufacturers providing free samples to physicians and on a larger scale prohibit them from having direct contact with the physicians on a regular basis. here must be a common

medical forum that e#periments and validates the (uality of the products, produced by different firms. he forum must serve as the (ualifying authority to let a drug have its mar%et presence. -rugs that do not satisfy the fundamental norms must be denied of its mar%et presence and public must be cautioned of the same. +imilarly, physicians must be cautioned to limit their prescriptions to drug combinations that are allowed by this central medical forum. $f the forum succeeds in establishing uniformity in the combination of drugs that are prescribed for a specific symptom would enhance the trust of consumers on medical practices. he second cause that leads to conflict of interest is that the physicians, motivated by economic or materialistic benefits, patronizing a particular drug or the products of a particular manufacturer. Just as the manufacturers of other consumerist products, use the sportsmen, filmma%ers and actors to publicize their product, the drug manufacturers, tend to use the teachers to create promotional shows for their product. Here, they aptly manipulate the reputation of a physician to achieve their own ends. he law calls it a deviation for a physician to favour the product of a

particular company without ade(uate prior e#posure, merely for the sa%e of monetary benefits. However, it is a common sight that doctors are invited to address the promotional meetings or to serve as model for their promotional ads. his motivates the physicians to shovel under carpet the %nown or proven defects or inefficiency of specific drugs and to prescribe it for the commoners, purely for the economical benefits that are bestowed on them. .n the other hand, drugs that are manufactured, bearing in mind the general welfare of the commoners, go unheard of. hus, the

manufacturers use the reputation of the physicians, gained through their e#perience and effective medical practices, for their individual welfare and for the welfare of their products. *nd the most gruelling situation is that the money that the physicians earn through this way is commonly unaccounted. $t is neither brought to the notice of the organizations, where they serve nor to the ta#ing authorities of their nation. hus, the drug manufacturers completely pollute the righteousness that is associated to medical practices. $n order to abolish this, the concerned government, especially the department of medical science and research, must come up with stringent norms that prohibit the physicians from associating themselves with the manufacturers of drugs for personal benefits. he third practice that leads to conflict of interest is that the physicians involving themselves with the products for economic gains. /ou may feel that the same point has already been stated above. But here $ refer to a different level commitment that the physicians involve themselves with the manufacturers. $n simple terms, there is a possibility of physicians becoming dormant partners in the drug manufacturing firms, promising them of absolute loyalty in the promotion of their products at the cost of the welfare of the commoners and the department of medical research. his would be the most e#treme and critical association that the physicians can enter with the private manufacturers that would greatly prove detrimental to the general welfare of the nation and the civilians. +uch associations would slowly result in the privatization of medical field, as the private manufactures, aided by the patronage of the renowned physicians of each locality, would thrive and yield undue influence in the global mar%et. his would deprive the government and the other

medical related organization of their power to e#ercise control over the private giants. his in turn would lead to a situation, wherein there is no monitoring authority to

control the (uality of the products that reach the hands of the customers. $t is indeed impossible to imagine such as situation, wherein unmonitored drugs adorn the hands of innocent customers, especially children. hat would totally undermine the social te#ture of any nation. $n order to avoid such havoc from happening, the government must closely monitor the signs of sudden growth in the production of certain manufacturers or products' they must carefully scrutiny the reasons for the sudden upscale movement and must bring to halt any progress through illegal means. Further, the physicians who cause such conflict in the medical practises must be deprived of their licenses. 0eferences1 Bernard 2o and 3arilyn J Field 4"ds.5. 6778. Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice. 9ashington 4-C5. :ational *cademies ;ress <+.